The Southern District Planning and Construction Committee approved today (Tuesday) the deposit of the plan for the establishment of the settlement “Hanon” (Ofir) in the Sdot Negev Regional Council in the Gaza Envelope (Tkuma region). The new settlement will be built east of Kibbutz Saad and north of Road 25. The settlement will include approximately 500 housing units, a large regional education campus, a community and employment center, and advanced environmental development based on the “Valley Park” and the regulation of Nahal Saad.
The plan, promoted by the Ministry of Construction and Housing through the Rural Affairs Administration in cooperation with the Sdot Negev Regional Council, and in accordance with a government decision from November 2020 to establish a new rural settlement in the Gaza Envelope area, covers approximately 950 dunams and is intended to house a mixed community — religious and secular — multi-generational, in a quality and compact rural setting.
The plan offers a rural-community settlement model, incorporating a variety of residential types: from single-family and duplex plots to concentrated and semi-dense construction. In addition, the plan includes small housing units averaging up to 80 square meters, to encourage the absorption of young families and create a diverse and vibrant community.
The new settlement is set to serve as a significant regional hub for the Sdot Negev Regional Council. Within the framework of the plan, public areas are allocated for the construction of a new regional education campus, which will include a 12-class elementary school and an 18-class high school. Alongside this, a mixed-use complex will be established at the center of the settlement, including commerce, clean employment, a clinic, and a community resilience center around a central pedestrian plaza.
One of the central components of the plan is the “Valley Park” — an open park that will serve as a green lung for the settlement and allow for the regulation and retention of surface runoff water. As part of the environmental and infrastructure solutions coordinated with the Drainage Authority, a section of approximately 2 kilometers of Nahal Saad will be redirected to a southern alignment adjacent to the railway line, while restoring the natural character of the stream.
Director General of the Ministry of Construction and Housing, Yehuda Morgenstern: “Advancing the plan for the establishment of Hanon settlement is a significant pillar in strengthening the Gaza Envelope and consolidating rural settlement in the periphery. The planned settlement will offer a variety of housing solutions for a mixed, multi-generational community, alongside educational institutions, community services, and advanced infrastructure that will contribute to the growth of the entire region. The Ministry of Construction and Housing will continue to act to advance settlement, strengthen communities, and develop the western Negev as part of the national vision to strengthen the periphery.”
Chairman of the District Committee, Adv. Oded Plus: “Approving the deposit of the plan for the Ofir settlement is a practical expression of the unwavering national commitment to strengthen and develop the western Negev. The plan provides a broad, forward-looking response, both from a demographic and environmental perspective, and constitutes a significant cornerstone in the momentum of renewal and growth of the entire region.”
Southern District Planner at the Planning Administration, Michal Meril: “The plan creates the right balance between quality and diverse residential development, ensuring a multi-generational housing mix, and the development of open spaces and advanced drainage systems, the development of an educational campus and council-wide buildings at the center of the settlement, with an emphasis on walkability and a central park. These will position the new settlement as a leading community and regional center that will offer a high quality of life to its residents and the surrounding area.”
The plan was prepared by a professional team led by planner and architect Arieh Rachimimov.
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